Improvement in awls for pegging-machines



E. P. RICHARDSON.

Awls for Pegging Machines Patented Feb. 20,1872.

- prevention of good work.

UNITED STATES EVERETT P. RICHARDSON, OF

PATEN O-EEIcE.

LAWRENCE, MASSACHUSETTS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 123,841, dated February 20,1872.

To all whom it may concern:

v Be it known that I, EVERETT P. RICHARD- soN, .of Lawrence, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented I an Improvement in Awls for Pegging-Machines; and I do hereby declare that the following, taken in connection with the drawing which accompanies and form s part of this specification, is a description of my invention sufficient to enable those skilled in the art to practice it. y

In a machine for nailing and pegging boots and shoes,- and in sewing-machines for sewing leather, it is customary to use awls having centrally-located points, or a central edge like a brad-awl, the hole made by the awl being for the entrance of the peg or nail, or the point of the needle. I have found, in practice, that the points of such awls are not reliable for forming holes axially in line with the awl-shank, as the point of the awl if it strikes the work at an angle, or if the work is held in angular position with relation to the entering point, deflects from a straight or axial line, thereby forming a hole which the peg, nail, or needle cannot easily follow, or which, if followed, will bring the points out at wrong places to the If an awl and needle be used, the awl entering in one direction upon one side of the work, and the needle in the other direction on the opposite side of the work, and in line with the awl, the result is that the awl points come out in one place, and the needle enters in another, which is, of course, destructive of good work.

In my invention I obviate these diificulties by making the shank of the awl with a point at one side, and not in the center, said point being in line with one side of the awl-shank. This construction insures the formation of a hole, the center of which isthe center of the awl-shank, and a hole which will always be made without deflection of the awl, no mattrr what may be the angle of presentation of the work. The hole must, therefore, be in exact position for the entrance of the nail or peg which is to fill the holes, or for entrance of the needle. It is in this construction of an awl for nailing-machines, pegging-machines, &c., that my invention consists.

The drawing represents an awl embodying, or made in accordance with the improvement.

a denotes the shank; b, the head which is slipped into and fastened to the awl-bar-or stock; and c is the point. It will be seen that the point of the awl is in line with the back surface of the shank, and that this point, it the awl moves in a straight line forward, must strike and enter the work without glancing, and in such manner as to secure the penetration of the several thicknesses of leather which may be together, without springing the awl, displacing the pieces to be united, or

forming an otherwise than straight hole.

The construction is not only an important ally in the production of good work, but effee-ts a saving in the wear of awls.

I claim An awl for pegging-machines, nailing-machines, &c., having its point in line with the surface of the shank, as shown and described.

E. P. RICHARDSON.

Witnesses:

FRANCIS GOULD M. W. FROTHINGHAM. 

